Joe Carroll backstage of the Broadway show "Cinderella" trying on one of his Prince Topher costumesNanette Golia - Instagram

NEW YORK – Someone might want to pinch Joe Carroll to see if he’s dreaming.

“I woke up in my childhood bedroom in Grand Rapids as I was visiting family for the holidays to a phone call that said I have to come back to New York to start rehearsals for 'Cinderella,'” Carroll said in a recent phone interview.

“I’ve hit the jackpot three times, but I’m trying not to talk about it too much because I feel like somebody is going to find out and take it away from me,” he said with a laugh. “I’m waiting to be told I should be handing out Macy’s fliers in Times Square. This is too good to be true. It’s very rare but very exciting.”

Carroll’s latest role is Prince Topher in the musical "Cinderella." Previously the 2012 University of Michigan graduate played Balthazar (and was Orlando Bloom’s understudy) in the recent revival of “Romeo and Juliet” and debuted on Broadway with a role in the Tony Award-winning musical “Once.”

Joe Carroll, 2008 East Grand Rapids graduatesupplied photo

Cinderella’s title role, Ella, was recently recast with pop star Carly Rae Jepsen of "Call Me Maybe" fame and Fran Drescher from television’s “The Nanny” taking on the role of the evil stepmother.

Producers often refresh the cast of Broadway shows to revive them and give them new life in hopes of bigger ticket sales. Jepsen's “Call Me, Maybe”music video has been viewed more than a half a billion times on YouTube.

Carroll, 23, will start his latest Broadway run Jan. 28 while Jepsen and Drescher will join the cast Feb. 4.

Carroll said the show, which features the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, has been completely rewritten with a modern feel to the dialogue.

“Even though it still takes place in a fairy kingdom with giants, ogres and magic, it is very contemporary,” he said. “The dialogue is very contemporary and funny. (The prince) doesn’t know what the heck he’s doing.”

“It’s a lot less of the stereotypical ‘look at my jawline and pretty hair’ and more of a story about a regular, confused guy looking to find his way in life through humor."

Speaking of humor, Carroll's heard more than a few "Call Me Maybe" jokes.

“Carly has had a really great sense of humor about it," he said. "But she is really going to dispel some critics with this. She still sounds like Carly Rae Jepsen but she’s the best, fullest, most exciting version of herself. She continually surprises herself in rehearsal. It’s exciting to see her discover her voice and our voices together.”

Those voices will be singing together often with three major duets in the show. Broadway is banking that the fresh faces and well-known names will extend the life of the show, and Carroll said he would love to see people from his hometown come to a performance.

“Please come and bring the whole family,” he said. “But if you can’t get here, please see a show at Civic, Circle or Actors’ theaters. I would not be doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for the arts scene in Grand Rapids, the drama program at East Grand Rapids High School, and the vibrant culture of the local theaters.”